Apparatus for supplying a predetermined quantity of electric power

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantity of electric power. Specially designed chit in form of a chip inserted in a receptacle operates a switch in main power line to supply predetermined measured quantity of power whereupon apparatus automatically opens switch if apparatus has not been reactivated by insertion of another chip. An alarm system is activated in advance of measured amount of power being used to warn consumer that service will be discontinued if apparatus is not reactivated by insertion of another chip.

United States Patent [191 Arita [111 3,778,637 Dec. 11, 1973 APPARATUSFOR SUPPLYING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF Primary ExaminerGeraldGoldberg ELECTRIC POWER Assistant Examiner-Harry E. Moose, Jr. [76]inventor: Koshei Arita, 10, 23, 2-chome, An0mey Char1eS Helzer n miegome OhQ -kQJQky Japan 22 Filed: Dec. 10, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl.No.: 206,684 Apparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantityof electric power. Specially designed chit in [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data follm a clllp Inserted. m a receptacle operaul's a sw1tch1n mam power line to supply predetermmed June 18, 1971 Japan 46/43352measured quantity of power whereupon apparatus tomatically opens switchif apparatus has not been re- [52] :LS. Cll. 307/140, 194/4 F, 194/11activated by insertion of another chip An alarm .f. tem is activated iadvance of measured amount of 1 le 0 garc power being used to warnconsumer that service will 307/149 140 be discontinued if apparatus isnot reactivated by inh References Cited sertlon of another 0 1p UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,064,787 11/1962 Davis194/11 T tu] T I P25 I I 2L EEK] 1 40 l W 5| PHL H l he w a 1 l l l'llN? I 11 u l l l l 14 I a 24 q l l l H p?! P 7 1 1 23 L -0 --o-PATENIEDUEL 1 1 ms 3.778.637

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1N VENTOR ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of InventionThis invention relates to apparatus for supplying a predeterminedmeasured quantity of electric power.

2. Prior Art Problem It is usual to calculate the fee to be paid forelectric power consumed by a customer by checking the indication of anintegrating watt-hour meter installed at the customers premises. Forthis reason, a service man of a utility company is required periodicallyto visit the customer to record the indication of the integratingwatt-hour meter. Where the watt-hour meter is installed inside a house,the service man can not read the watt-hour meter when the customer isabsent.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide animproved apparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantity ofelectric power without the necessity of periodic reading of theintegrating watt-hour meter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new apparatus forsupplying electric power which utilizes a specially designed chip thatfunctions as a chit to activated the apparatus and supply a prescribedquantity of electric power whereby the power can be utilized eithercontinuously or intermittently, until the predetermined quantity isreached.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus forsupplying a predetermined measured quantity of electric power whichcommences supply of power and then operates an alarm when nearly all ofthe predetermined quantity of electric power has been consumed tothereby advise the consumer that the predetermined quantity will soon bedepleted.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such an improvedapparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantity of electricpower wherein a chip inserted in the apparatus to activate it, is heldtherein until nearly all of the predetermined quantity of electric powerhas been consumed and then automatically is released in order to receivethe next chip.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such an apparatuswherein electric power can be supplied continuously without interruptionupon the next chip being inserted during the interval while the alarm isoperated.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus forsupplying a predetermined quantity of electric power which utilizes anew type chip for use as a chit to control supply of power to a consumerthrough the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description.

According to this invention there is provided apparatus for supplying apredetermined measured quantity of electric power to a consumer uponactuation by the insertion of an authentic chip. The apparatus comprisesan integrating watt-hour meter, a signal transmitter operated by thewatt-hour meter for developing an electrical alarm signal within a rangeof consumed power between a value smaller than the predeterminedquantity and the predetermined quantity, a main power switch connectedbetween the watt-hour meter and the load, a chip receiver, a chip to beinserted in the chip receiver, alarm means responsive to the electricalalarm signal, means responsive to the insertion of the chip into thechip receiver for closing the main power switch, and means responsive tocompletion of the predetermined measured quantity of electric power andthe termination of the electrical alarm signal for opening the mainpower switch in the absence of a new chip being inserted in the chipreceiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a functional block diagramshowing the arrangement of various elements of the apparatus embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of novel chip utilized in this invention asa chit for activating the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of the apparatusof this invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing various relays and their contactsutilized in the circuit shown in FIG. 3.

With reference to FIG. 1 showing a functional block diagram of theapparatus for supplying a predetermined quantity of electric power. Theapparatus comprises an integrating watt-hour meter 10, a switch 20, anda chip receiver 30. The integrating watt-hour meter 10 has aconstruction substantially identical to that of a conventionalintegrating watt-hour meter except that it includes a signal transmitterto be described later which sends a signal when a definite quantity ofelectric power has been consumed and integrated into the measurement ofthe meter and stops the sending out of this signal when a remainingquantity of electric power has been corisumed and the total amount ofpower measured by the meter equals the predetermined quantity. Thissignal is sent to switch 20 over a conductor 11. The switch 20 isconstructed such that it commences supply of power to a customer when achip in the form of a chip (to be described later) is inserted into chipreceiver 30 and to interrupt the supply of power in response to thesignal from the integrating watt-hour meter 10. Further, the switch 20operates to send an alarm control signal informing the customer that thepower supplied has reached the predetermined value. To this end, switch20 and chip receiver 30 are interconnected by a conductor 21. Switch 20is provided with a counter 22. Chip receiver 30 is constructed suchthat, in response to the insertion of a chip, it closes switch 20 andreleases the inserted chip after a predetermined quantity of electricityhas been consumed. The chip receiver is provided with a chip receivingopening 31 and alarm means in the form of a neon lamp 32 and a buzzer 33and is installed in a customers house. Terminals 40 are provided forconnecting integrating watt-hour meter 10 and switch 20 to an AC Vsource, not shown, through conductors 50 and 51 for supplying current,30 A for example, to the load in the house through terminals 41.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a chip 60 utilized in this inventionas a chit to actuate the apparatus upon being inserted into opening 31of chip receiver 30. The chip comprises a pair of contacts 61 and 62, afuse 63 connected across these contacts, a special form of permanentmagnet 64 to be described later and a check piece 65. These elements aremounted or embodied in a support of insulating material 60 A which isprovided with a transverse groove 66 for retaining the chip in chipreceiver 30 in a manner to be described later. When the chip is insertedinto the chip receiver, electric current is passed through fuse 63 viacontacts 61 and 62. The permanent magnet 64 is used to operate a reedswitch to be described later and to determine whether the inserted chipis a genuine one or not according to the positions of the poles of themagnet. It is desirable to use a permanent magnet which vapourizes whenheated for reasons to be explained later. When the chip 60 is insertedinto opening 31, the check piece 65 is automatically peeled off orremoved from support 60 A and retained in chip receiver 30. The checkpiece is printed or impressed with a prescribed code or mark so that itis possible to check whether the chip is genuine or not. Further, it ispossible later to determine the total number of chips previouslyinserted by counting the number of check pieces remaining in the chipreceiver.

In the following description, it is assumed that the power which can besupplied to the customer with one chip is 100 KWI-I which is thepredetermined quantity of the electric power to be measured out by theapparatus. Further, it is assumed that the value of power close to thispredetermined power is 90 KWH. Consequently, the watt-hour meter isdesigned such that it commences transmission of a signal when it hasintegrated 90 KWH after insertion of a chip and stops the transmissionof the signal when 100 KWI-l is reached. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3a signal transmitter is provided comprising a permanent magnet 13mounted on a digit wheel of the order of tens and a reed switch 14positioned to be closed by the magnet l3.-The reed switch 14 ispositioned such that it is closed by the permanent magnet 13 when digitwheels of the order of tens and units display 90.0 in a display window15 and that when a digit wheel of the order of decimal is rotatedsuccessively to shift the operation to the digit wheel of the order ofhundreds, the magnet 13 is moved away from the reed switch 14, thusopening the same.

Main contacts R, and R of switch are included in conductors 51 and 52,respectively. One terminal of reed switch 14 is connected to conductor52 whereas the other terminal to conductor 51 through a relay Pcontained in switch 20. The juncture 22 between relay P and conductor 51is connected to one end of relay Q and to one end of a main relay Rthrough a normally closed contact p, of relay P and a normally openedcontact q, of relay Q. The opposite terminal 23 of relay R is connectedthrough a current limiting resistor 24 and a normally opened contact r,of relay R to conductor 51 on the right hand side of contact R,. Theoperating coil M of a counter 25 is connected across terminal 23 andconductor 52. Relays S and T contained in switch 20 are selectivelyconnected across conductors 51 and 52 via transfer switches r, and p,which are operated by relays R and P respectively. Switch r, isconnected to one terminal of an alarm device 34 contained in the chipreceiver whereas a stationary contact p of transfer switch p, isconnected to the other terminal of the alarm device 34. As abovedescribed the alarm device 34 comprises a neon lamp 32, a buzzer 33 an areset button 35.

A pair of contact pieces 36 and 37 are provided in opening 31 of chipreceiver 30 as shown in the lower middle portion of FIG. 3 to cooperatewith contacts 61 and 62, respectively, of chip 60, and these contactpieces 36 and 37 are connected to conductor 52 and terminal 23,respectively. The other terminal of relay Q is connected to contactpiece 36 through a reed switch 38 which is disposed to be operated bythe permanent magnet 64 of chip 60. In parallel with the alarm device 34is connected a series circuit including a contact 39 which is closedwhen the chip 60 is inserted into opening 31 and a coil U for releasingthe chip when energized.

Main contacts R, and R and transfer switch r, operated by relay R aremaintained in their operated positions by a lever and catch mechanismdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 4. More particularly, when the coil ofrelay R is energized, its plunger is attracted to close contacts R,, Rand r At the same time, transfer switch r, is switched to contact r fromits normally closed contact r,,. When relay R is deenergized contact r,is opened. However, transfer switch r, is held in contact with contactr, by the engagement of an operating lever L, with a catch L which isactuated by a relay T and main contacts R, and R are maintained closedby the engagement of a lever L and a catch L, which is actuated by arelay S. Upon deenergization of relays T and S transfer switch r, isswitched to contact r,, while main contacts R, and R, are opened.

The apparatus thus far described operates as follows. First it isassumed that various contacts are in the states as shown in FIG. 3 andthat the number of count of the integrating watt-hour meter 10 is zero.Under these conditions, upon insertion of a genuine chip 60 into opening31 of chip receiver 30 the permanent magnet 64 comes to face reed switch38, thus closing the same. As a result relay Q is energized to close itscontact q, and open its contact q During the insertion of chip 60, thecheck piece 65 is stripped off to be retained in chip receiver 30.Closure of contact q, establishes an energizing circuit for relay R thatcan be traced from conductor 51, through contacts p, and In relay R andcontacts 36, 61, fuse 63 and contacts 62 and 37 to conductor 52. As aconsequence relay R is energized and transfer switch r, is switched tocontact r,,, contact r, is closed and main contacts R, and R; are closedthus commencing the supply of electric power to the customer.Concurrently therewith the integrating watth'our meter starts tointegrate the power. Insertion of the chip also closes contact 39.Further, a locking bar, not shown, in the chip receiver 30 comes toengage groove 66 (see FIG. 2) of the chip thus locking the same in theinserted position, so that it is impossible to manually withdraw thechip, out of the chip receiver 30.

Closure of contact r passes a relatively large current through fuse 63via current limiting resistor 24 thereby melting fuse 63 and evaporatingmagnet 64. Consequently reed switch 38 opens and relay Q is deenergizedto open its contacts q, and close q,. Opening of contact q, deenergizesrelay R but contacts R, and R, are maintained in the closed conditionand transfer contact r, is maintained in contact with contact r by meansof the mechanical lever and catch interlocking mechanism described abovewith relation to FIG. 4, thus ensuring continued supply of the power.During the interval in which contact q, is moved from the closed stateto the opened state, current flows through operating coil M of counter25, thus advancing the same by one digit. This counts the insertion ofone chip so that the digits displayed by counter 25 represents the totalnumber of chips inserted into the chip receiver.

When the watt-hour meter integrates a little short of the predeterminedpower 100 KWH,-that is QOKWH in this example, permanent magnet 13carried by wheel 12 of the order of tens will come to face reed switch14, thus closing the same. Closure of the reed switch energizes relay Pto open its contact p, and to switch transfer switch p from contact p tocontact p As a result, relay T is energized to disengage catch L fromlever L thus permitting transfer switch r, to reengage contact r as hasbeen described with reference to FIG. 4. At the same time, alarm device34 is energized by a circuit extending through contacts q and p andtransfer switch p Consequently, neon lamp 32 and buzzer 34 are energizedto give visible and audible alarms to the customer informing him thatthe predetermined power will soon be reached. Closure of contact p alsoenergizes coil U for releasing the chip by disengaging the locking bardescribed above from groove 66 thus driving the chip to the outside ofthe chip receiver by the force of a spring, not shown. With respect tothe chip released in this manner, the fuse 63 has melted and magnet 64evaporated as above described so thatsuch a chip can not be used againto actuate the apparatus.

Upon the alarm 34 being operated when power consumption has reached 90KWH as above described, the consumer will be in either one of thefollowing two conditions:

1. The power required is equal to or less than 100 KWl-l.

2. The power required is more than 100 KWH. In the case of condition 1,the consumer can operate his load with the remaining KWH without thenecessity of inserting a new chip. Under these conditions, althoughalarm device 34 continues its operation, when the integrating watt-hourmeter 10 completes the integration of I00 KWH, the permanent magnet 13carried by digit wheel 12 of the order of tens, is moved away from reedswitch 14 as above described, the relay P will be deenergized to closeits contact p, and operate transfer switch P, from contact P to contactP Consequently, relay S is energized to disengage latch L from lever Ldue to the fact that r previously has closed on r due to energization ofT thereby opening main contacts R and R The supply of electric powerthen is interrupted. Accordingly, alarm device 34 and relay S aredeenergized.

1n the case of condition 2, the customer will insert a new chip into thechip receiver 39 while alarm device 34 is operating. Insertion of thenew chip closes reed switch 38 to energize relay Q. Although contact q,is closed by energization of Q, contact p, still is open so that relay Ris not energized to hold its contact r in the closed condition.Consequently, current is not passed through fuse 63 of the new chip;Energization of relay 0 opens its contact q, to deenergize alarm device34. When the remaining 10 KWl-l or a total of 100 KWH is supplied, reedswitch 14 opens to deenergize relay P. As a result its contact p, isclosed to energizev relay R. Since contacts R, and R, have beenmaintained closed by the mechanical interlocking mechanism, power iscontinuously supplied. Thereafter, the operation proceeds in the samemanner as above described in connection with the first chip.

While the embodiment relates to the supply of single phase power, itwill be clear that the invention can equally be applied to three phasepower. As is well known in the art, when necessary, a circuit breakermay be used in conjunction with switch 20 for interrupting overcurrent.

The load may be anypower consuming device. In the case of a residence,the load may comprise all household appliances. Further, the load may bea television receiver or a washing machine, separately supplied by thepresent invention, in which case the user, must employ special chipssold for the purpose of operating the television receiver, washingmachine, etc.

As above described the invention provides a new and improved apparatusfor supplying a predetermined measured quantity of electric powerwherein a specially designed chip is used to close a switchinterconnecting a load and a source for supplying thereto apredetermined amount power corresponding to the amount of powerauthorized by the chip. So long as the power consumed is within thepredetermined quantity, the remaining power can be used at any latertime. As the power consumed approaches the predetermined quantity, analarm is operated informing the user that an additional chip should beinserted. Thus, the invention enables continuous or intermittentconsumption of electric power.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantity of electricpower to a load comprising an integrating watt-hour meter, a signaltransmitter operated by said watt-hour meter for developing anelectrical alarm signal only upon the range of consumed power asmeasured by the integrating watt-hour meter falling between a valuesmaller than said predetermined quantity and said predeterminedquantity, a main power switch connected between said watt-hour meter andsaid load, chip receiver means for receiving a destructible chip to beinserted into said chip receiver means for actuating the apparatus,alarm means responsive to said electrical alarm signal, means responsiveto the insertion of a chip into said chip receiver means for closingsaid main power switch, means responsive to the insertion of a chip intosaid chip receiver means for automatically invalidating the destructiblechip as a genuine chip, and means responsive to the predeterminedmeasured quantity of electric power being supplied for opening said mainpower switch in the absence of a new chip being inserted in the chipreceiver means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 which further includes means forlocking a chip in said chip receiver means after insertion, said meansbeing responsive to said electrical alarm signal to release theinvalidated chip from said chip receiver means before said predeterminedvalue is reached thus permitting insertion of a new chip.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal transmittercomprises a reed switch and a perm anent magnet carried by a digit wheelof a predetermined order of said integrating watt-hour meter.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein authentic chips, areprovided with a removable check piece and said chip receiver means hasmeans for removing the check piece from the chip and for retaining theremoved check piece upon the chip being inserted in said chip receivermeans.

5. Apparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantity of electricpower to a load comprising an integrating watt-hour meter, a signaltransmitter operated by said watt-hour meter for developing anelectrical alarm signal within a range of consumed power as measured bythe integrating watt-hour meter between a value smaller than saidpredetermined quantity and said predetermined quantity, a main powerswitch including a control relay connected between said watthour meterand said load, chip receiver means including a second switch means,alarm means responsive to said electrical alarm signal, said chipreceiver means being adapted to receive a specially designated chipinserted into said chip receiver to actuate the apparatus with thespecially designed chip having a fusible ele ment, means for operatingsaid second switch means in said chip receiver means upon a chip beinginserted into said chip receiver means whereupon said second switchmeans closes said main power switch and said fusible element melts toopen the control relay to said main power switch, lever-catch meansoperated by said control relay for maintaining said main power switch inthe closed condition until said electrical alarm signal is terminated,and means responsive to the predetermined measured quantity of electricpower being supplied for opening said main power switch in the absenceof a new chip being inserted in the ship receiver means.

6. The apparatus according to claim further including a counter thatcounts the number of chips inserted into said chip receiver.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said second switch meanscomprises a reed switch and said means for operating said second switchmeans comprises a permanent magnet formed on the chip for closing saidsecond switch means.

' 8. The apparatus according to claim 5 which further includes means forlocking a chip in said chip receiver means after insertion, said meansbeing responsive to said electrical alarm signal to release said chipfrom said chip receiver means before said predetermined value is reachedthus permitting insertion of a new chip.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said signal transmittercomprises a reed switch and a permanent magnet carried by a digit wheelof a predetermined order of said integrating watt-hour meter.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second switch meanscomprises a reed switch and said means for operating said second switchmeans comprises a permanent magnet formed on the chip for closing saidsecond switch means.

1. Apparatus for supplying a predetermined measured quantity of electricpower to a load comprising an integrating watt-hour meter, a signaltransmitter operated by said watt-hour meter for developing anelectrical alarm signal only upon the range of consumed power asmeasured by the integrating watt-hour meter falling between a valuesmaller than said predetermined quantity and said predeterminedquantity, a main power switch connected between said watt-hour meter andsaid load, chip receiver means for receiving a destructible chip to beinserted into said chip receiver means for actuating the apparatus,alarm means responsive to said electrical alarm signal, means responsiveto the insertion of a chip into said chip receiver means for closingsaid main power switch, means responsive to the insertion of a chip intosaid chip receiver means for automatically invalidating the destructiblechip as a genuine chip, and means responsive to the predeterminedmeasured quantity of electric power being supplied for opening said mainpower switch in the absence of a new chip being inserted in the chipreceiver means.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 which furtherincludes means for locking a chip in said chip receiver means afterinsertion, said means being responsive to said electrical alarm signalto release the invalidated chip from said chip receiver means beforesaid predetermined value is reached thus permitting insertion of a newchip.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signaltransmitter comprises a reed switch and a permanent magnet carried by adigit wheel of a predetermined order of said integrating watt-hourmeter.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein authentic chips,are provided with a removable check piece and said chip receiver meanshas means for removing the check piece from the chip and for retainingthe removed check piece upon the chip being inserted in said chipreceiver means.
 5. Apparatus for supplying a predetermined measuredquantity of electric power to a load comprising an integrating watt-hourmeter, a signal transmitter operated by said watt-hour meter fordeveloping an electrical alarm signal within a range of consumed poweras measured by the integrating watt-hour meter between a value smallerthan said predetermined quantity and said predetermined quantity, a mainpower switch including a control relay connected between said watt-hourmeter and said load, chip receiver means including a second switchmeans, alarm means responsive to said electrical alarm signal, said chipreceiver means being adapted to receive a specially designated chipinserted into said chip receiver to actuate the apparatus with thespecially designed chip having a fusible element, means for operatingsaid second switch means in said chip receiver means upon a chip beinginserted into said chip receiver means whereupon said second switchmeans closes said main power switch and said fusible element melts toopen the control relay to said main power switch, lever-catch meansoperated by said control relay for maintaining said main power switch inthe closed condition until said electrical alarm signal is terminated,and means responsive to the predetermined measured quantity of electricpower being supplied for opening said main power switch in the absenceof a new chip being inserted in the ship receiver means.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 5 further including a counter that countsthe number of chips inserted into said chip receiver.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 5 wherein said second switch means comprises a reedswitch and said means for operating said second switch means comprises apermanent magnet formed on the chip for closing said second switchmeans.
 8. The apparaTus according to claim 5 which further includesmeans for locking a chip in said chip receiver means after insertion,said means being responsive to said electrical alarm signal to releasesaid chip from said chip receiver means before said predetermined valueis reached thus permitting insertion of a new chip.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 8 wherein said signal transmitter comprises a reedswitch and a permanent magnet carried by a digit wheel of apredetermined order of said integrating watt-hour meter.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second switch meanscomprises a reed switch and said means for operating said second switchmeans comprises a permanent magnet formed on the chip for closing saidsecond switch means.